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England Tap team reaches finals of 2009 orld Championships
In only the second attempt the England Tap Team reached the finals of the World Tap Dance 
Championships in Riesa, Germany. A team of 21 dancers from ages 12 to 20 competed at the event held from 1st to 5th December. The dancers had been selected from nation wide auditions to become part of the team and have attended rehearsals since selection in May.
Championships in Riesa, Germany. A team of 21 dancers from ages 12 to 20 competed at the event held from 1st to 5th December. The dancers had been selected from nation wide auditions to become part of the team and have attended rehearsals since selection in May.Twenty countries attended the world championships with excess of 1200 tap dancers competing.
This year the team exceeded all expectations by qualifying nearly all of their 14 dances through to the semi finals and then half of those dances qualifying for the finals. The England team achieved excellent rankings with the highest position being achieved by junior male competitor Zac Watts. Zac achieved runner up status (2nd place). Gabriella White continued the success by ranking 5th in the junior girl’s section. The whole team then continued on with the group dances being ranked 7th in the world.
Further success stories include in the duets with Keith Henderson & Jack Evans ranking 9th and Ellen Eyers & Gabriella White ranking 10th and Rosie Bretherton & Stephanie Reid ranking 18th. In the solos Alastair Crosswell ranked 11th for the boys and Rosie Bretherton ranking 13th, Adina Nyahwa ranking 16th, Sophie Wathen ranking 19th for the girls.
This year the team have been coached by Tap Attack Creative director and Guinness World Record Breaker Jo Scanlan and resident director and dance captain of Tap Dogs James Doubtfire. Both coaches were ecstatic with the results the team achieved. “So much work has gone in to the team this year and I am delighted with their progress. They are a real attribute to their country and have done England proud” said Jo Scanlan “These dancers have worked in a professional manner with many dancers having to travel for up to 4 hours just to attend rehearsals. With all the negative press many young people receive, this team of young dancers are something for us all to be proud of”.
Training will continue in 2010, with auditions held in March, with aims to build on the success the team has achieved. As a non funded team the dancers will also continue to work to raise the £30,000 that is involved with preparing for and attending the World Championships, furthering the opinion these dancers really are some of the best young tap dancers in the world.
This article originally appeared in the January 2010 edition of Dance Dynamic
